drew03cmc

Only in the winter and if you know the summer springs at Lake Shawnee and in Cherokee County, Mined Lands Wildlife Area #30.

Shoot, I've had the flu for a week. I ain't left the house other than to go get more medicine.

That lake has a good number of holdover fish each year. It is possible that fish was just stocked last week, but it is also possible that is a holdover from last year.

You will love baitcasters. Spinning gear is great for finesse fishing, but for crankbaits, spinnerbaits, topwater and really anything else, it is hard to beat the versatility of a baitcaster. I use my bc rigs for soft plastics like soft craws on jigheads, tubes, worms, etc. A lot of guys do not use them for that, but it is a comfort issue with me. Take only casting rigs with you and leave the spin tackle at home. Learn to make it work in all situations, it will not only give you a sense of accomplishment, but will make you a better, more rounded fisherman.

Nice find Chief. I am pleased that these guys are doing what we have talked about needing done for years on this site. Thanks fellers.

Yeah, the Blue has no access until you get into Missouri and that might be the best bet right now.

The Blue is where Indian goes, and my plan is to maybe fish them both since they are within a few miles of each other. Hopefully I can get into at least a couple fish. Maybe I can hit some of the deeper holes. Upper Indian is small water. I know on the Little Blue around Longview Lake, I have caught some nice largemouth on UL gear back when I was in high school.

Hey, you want to talk about bs'ing people, be my guest. I don't care. Hope you all have fun.

One of them, I did get as a gift. I like it a lot to be honest, and to replace it with the same reel would put me at that price range, so I don't dislike great gear, but I have a hard time with the price difference between good, usable reels and the latest technological marvel with its 12 magnets and superlight magnofluxed action specific spool diameters with porting for lighter weight. I just can't justify the cost. That is me. Eric, I haven't said I was right. You keep going about it like you are proving something and I said that is how I, note that noun there, I, associate them and as such that is the terminology I used. Was it incorrect, sure, am I going to immediately change it? Nope, not too likely. It may happen, but I doubt it. We can debate the benefits of correct terminology or expensive tackle all day, and neither will likely change my mind. I am happy with my tackle and how I use it, that is what is important, right? I am set in my ways as far as conveying rod action/power, and will take into consideration the Loomis way of speaking regarding the power vs action. I don't mind.

Hush Wayne...yes, Indian Creek. I could have chosen any number of creeks in the area, but Indian is the biggest of them. You know anything about it?

Plans have changed, I am staying the KC area, hitting a wading sized stream that runs through Overland Park. I have it on good information that it holds some good sized largemouth bass. I am trying to stay close to home due to a medical procedure and this being my first physical activity since surgery. These lures will all work here as well, so thank you everyone! I will take the Flint Hills recommendations to heart as the year progresses and I get to hit a few of those streams.

I understand that. I didn't know this was a dissertation on rod action vs power. I was just telling you why I associated the two together when I was 12, and never changed my terminology. It worked for me.

I ain't a builder...Power/action, oh well...thanks Eric. I am not too concerned. I always associated power ratings with action anyway. In my mind a L casting rod is limber, flexible, easy to cast while a MH casting rod is a telephone pole that doesn't flex for anything. That is how I always associated them with action. Wayne, you would be surprised. I, however, am not spending $200+ on a fishing rod. It doesn't make sense to me. For twice that, I can have a kayak, so I don't see the advantage to it. I do, however, prefer my baitcasters for bass fishing as they give better versatility to fish the various lures that I will use on a given day.

With proper adjustments, there is no reason you can't toss lures down to 1/8oz on a suitably light rod and baitcast reel. I routinely toss 3/16oz spinnerbaits on my Calcutta with an old glass rod that has a really soft tip. I think if you grab a baitcaster and a rod, ML action at the heaviest to learn on, L action with 10# test line would be ideal to learn on and can do a lot of fishing on creeks. In my opinion, there is no need for the casting rods that you see the pros using, 7' MH action casting rods are great for setting the hook on 100' casts, but how often are you making casts that long on a creek? I like my rods to be L to ML action, graphite or glass doesn't matter as much, but 10# test line is capable of handling everything a creek can give me. 5'6"-6' lengths are suitable to Ozark creeks and will offer the positives of being easily stored in the canoe with you or easily carried through the woods if you are wading.

Yeah, we have crawdads. I will be trying some stuff and seeing what I can figure out.

I assume it has spotted bass and largemouth as the predominant species of the black bass family present in the stretch that is on state land, correct? That is a definitely must try as soon as I can.

Man, I want to hit Fall River, but am unsure if it is wadeable as I am boatless at the moment.

Eric, that thought never crossed my mind. OTF, I agree with you. The Rebel Craw is a very useful bait in small waters, as are the Rooster Tails!

Which creeks did you used to fish Randy? I haven't fished any of them, and I wish I had access to a few of them.

Hmm, thanks JD. I was taking a spin rod as well anyway, but with the recommendations, I will run with it.

Not with gear. I was primarily a fly fisherman for four or five years. I have only recently gotten into gear fishing again. I did just bump my head though...darn kids.

I'll be up here in Kansas on a creek in the Flint Hills chasing spotted bass and largemouth. It should prove to be fun.

No. I use spin tackle, baitcasting tackle and the fly rod. I am not a snob. I actually prefer my casting gear, since I learned to use it, for bass. I've caught thousands of bass on the fly, however, that isn't always the easiest or most productive way to fish for me. Excuse the idiocy Mitch, what would you consider a jerkbait? Would it be something like a Rogue or perhaps something like a soft plastic fluke? If a fluke, what color?

I am looking to get into a smallmouth or two this Monday. Can I get some advice on lures for this time of year? I haven't chased smallmouth this early in the year before.

I want to float as many as I can. There is no point in making a list of them, but I want to hit them all.